Today I want to bring you my guide to UK Christmas cocktails. Whether you want to make a classic tipple or you’re excited about Scottish drinks or English drinks, read on to see my top picks for British libations during the Christmas season. There are lots of festive favorites and inventive numbers to imbibe.
UK Christmas Cocktails
Since moving to London, I’ve come to know a lot about UK Christmas cocktails. From work events to nights out with friends, I’ve tasted a variety of festive drinks and wintry tipples throughout each Yuletide season.
British Christmas drinks vary from creative cocktails to classic favorites. Whether you enjoy a warming mulled wine or a glass of Winter Pimm’s, there’s a delicious tipple you’ll want to try over the holiday season.
If you aren’t going to be in the UK for Christmas, these festive drinks will give you a taste of winter in Britain from anywhere in the world.
If you will be in Blighty, they’re perfect compliments to British Christmas food. Some of them pair exceptionally well with classic British Christmas desserts, too.
Books About UK Christmas Cocktails
If you want to try your hand at mixing these and other delicious UK Christmas cocktails, I recommend using the recipes in the book Very Merry Cocktails: 50+ Festive Drinks for the Holiday Season.
This Christmas cocktail cookbook is replete with drink recipes for the Yuletide period. If you’re in the UK, you can get it on Amazon here. If you’re in the US, you can get it on Amazon here.
1. Winter Pimm’s at Christmas in the UK
Winter Pimm’s is one of my favorite traditional UK Christmas cocktails. It’s made using Pimm’s No. 3, which is brandy-based and flavored with cinnamon, orange, and caramel. Yum.
You can find this drink in some pubs and bars in Britain. It’s one of the most beloved Christmas drinks of the festive season. I’ll always remember having my first Winter Pimm’s at The Ship & Shovell pub in Charing Cross when I moved to London.
Most people who make Winter Pimm’s at home add warm apple juice and slices of apple and orange to the mix, too. You can get creative and add ingredients and mixers like ginger beer and cranberry juice as well. Cinnamon sticks make a great garnish.
2. Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is my favorite of all the Christmas cocktails in the UK. Made from blending hot wine with spices, it’s a great winter warmer. Many people add brandy, Cointreau, or tawny port to the mix as well.
Mulled wine is a staple drink during the festive season in Britain. You can find it in lots of pubs and at British Christmas markets. Many people make it at home for Christmas parties or big family meals on December 25th as well.
You can get mulling spices at British supermarkets. Buying them makes it easy to create this drink yourself by warming wine (and spirits, if you choose) on your stove and steeping the sachets of spices in it.
You can also purchase mulling spices online. If you’re in the UK, you can get some on Amazon here. If you’re in the US, you can get some on Amazon here.
3. Eggnog
Eggnog is another of the most beloved UK Christmas cocktails. While recipes vary, most include egg yolks, heavy cream, cinnamon, sugar, and Borubon (or rum or brandy).
This festive drink is thought to be a derivation of an early medieval British drink called a posset. It was a warm, milky drink somewhat akin to ale.
The name is thought to come from the word “nog”, an obscure historic dialect word that was used to describe strong beer.
Either way, it’s a fun drink to have during the festive season in Britain, and one many people make at home.
4. Champagne Cocktails at Christmas in the UK
Next on my list of UK Christmas cocktails are those made with champagne (or prosecco, cava, English sparkling wine, or other bubbles).
Champagne (and wine and beer, for that matter) is often enjoyed before, during, and after Christmas dinner in Blighty.
In fact, it’s one of the most popular drinks at Christmas in the UK. If you’re wondering what British people drink on Christmas, this is your answer (or one of them, anyway).
But we’re talking cocktails here, and if you want to try a champagne cocktail, there are plenty around. One popular example is Buck’s Fizz, which is made by mixing champagne with orange juice.
Other champagne cocktails can be made with mixers like cranberry juice, redcurrant, or strawberry to add seasonal red color to the drink.
5. Mulled Cider
Next on my list of UK Christmas cocktails is mulled cider. Like mulled wine, this traditional number is made by mulling seasonal spices in hot cider. Many people add spiced rum to the mix to make it stronger, too.
The result is a drink that will warm you up and transport you to a winter wonderland. It’s just the thing for you if you prefer cider to wine.
You can also make a non-alcoholic alternative with apple cider and garnish it with a cinnamon stick. It’s a great option if you want to reign in the excesses of the holiday season while still enjoying a festive drink.
6. British Christmas Punch
Next on my list of festive British cocktails is Christmas punch. This warm cocktail is made from dark rum, red wine, tea, and citrus. It’s the perfect libation to get you channeling your inner Charles Dickens on a cold December night.
You can find variations on the recipe in bars across the UK at Christmastime. Some include mixers like cranberry juice, orange juice, and pomegranate juice. Others have additional spirits like vodka.
There are plenty of recipes you can use to make Christmas punch yourself, too. It’s a fun way to bring the spirit (er, ghost of Christmas past) of the season into your home.
7. Hot Buttered Rum
Next on my list of UK Christmas cocktails is Hot Buttered Rum. This traditional drink is made from spiced rum, hot water (or cider), butter, and a sweetener like brown sugar. It’s often garnished with nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.
Hot Buttered Rum isn’t a staple on pub menus, but you can find it in some bars during the festive period (especially if they have a seasonal drinks list). You can make it at home, too.
8. Sloe Gin Cocktails
Sloe gin cocktails are also popular Christmas libations in the UK. Sloe gin is a red British liqueur made from gin and sloes (wild plums). Due to its color and quintessential Britishness, it’s a popular spirit for making festive cocktails.
There are lots of recipes for sloe gin Christmas drinks. From the Sloe Gin Royal made with sparkling wine to the Sloe Gin Fizz with club soda, simple syrup, and lemon juice, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to options.
9. Snowball Cocktail
Last on my list of UK Christmas cocktails is the snowball. This drink is made with Advocaat, lime juice, and sparkling lemonade. You can garnish it with a maraschino cherry.
This is a fun one to drink or make throughout the whole winter season (it’s in the name, right)? There are plenty of variations on the recipe, so you can have fun putting your own personal spin on it.
UK Christmas Cocktails
I hope A Lady in London’s guide to UK Christmas cocktails has shown you some exciting new-to-you tipples and inspired you to try making or sampling these seasonal drinks and festive favorites at home this winter.
Beyond these, many people drink Negronis, sangria, and other classic cocktails during the run-up to December 25th. Happy Christmas!
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